The decision regarding the petition will be announced in the Appellate and Special Powers Court here on Wednesday, said his lawyer N Surendran.

The decision was conveyed to Anwar's lawyers in the form of an affidavit issued by the Prime Minister's department legal affairs director-general, who is also part of the Pardons Board.

The applicants had asked for delay in announcing the decision in order to convey it to Anwar first.

Surendran confirmed that neither the 68-year-old veteran politician nor his family was informed of the decision, which was made yesterday.

Anwar - who is the most potent threat to Prime Minister Najib Razak - was jailed for five years after a court held him guilty of sodomising his former aide and the ruling was stated to have strong repercussions on the country's political landscape.